Pro 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are
deceitful.
Pro 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
Pro 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his
friend.
These are just three of the characteristics that a true friend should have. In verse
6 it says that faithful are the wounds of a friend. True friends will tell you the
truth all the time, even when it’s not the fun thing to do and it hurts you, but it’s
what’s needed. Verse 9 tells us that the heart rejoices by the counsel of his friend.
It’s great to have someone in your life that can give you perspective. I come from
a large family, but it’s my church family and friends that I turn to for this. Verse 17
that a friend should sharpen our countenance. I have to say that my friendship
with my accountability partner certainly did that for me. During that first year as
we read through our Bible, it was a time of growth in his Word. That was due in
part to having a friend that was encouraging in the Word and also wasn’t afraid to
say no I don’t think that is what that means. We are truly blessed when we have
the kind of friends that God has described in these verses.